My 2-Year-old Only Naps in His High Chair

Updated on March 26, 2009
K.W. asks from Lexington, VA
4 answers

This is a peculiar problem: my son, 2yrs 2 mos., has gone to sleep beautifully in his crib since we did FRBR more than a year ago. However, the same treatment never worked during the day - he could cry for 50 minutes if I put him in his crib to nap. However, he would go to sleep in his high chair after lunch. The back reclines, and he will sleep up to 3 hrs. So, that's what we've done. I really need that nap time, because I telecommute from home and need to work while he naps!

Problem is, I'm sure he'll grow out of the seat at some point, and in the short term, we're going to be spending a lot of time (months) visiting relatives who don't have reclining high chairs. Today I decided to try the crib again and put him in with books and toys and told him he didn't have to go to sleep, he just needed to rest. He was clearly tired - even lay down for a moment - but as soon as I left he started to cry. After 20 minutes of this, I decided to go back and put on the lullaby CD he often listens to when napping in the dining room. When I came in he had one leg over the side and could have fallen out of the crib! He never does this at night or even if he's awake a while in the morning before we come in. So now I wonder if I have to put the side down or take him out of the crib, which I don't want to do in case it changes the excellent nighttime dynamic - and I still don't have a solution for his naps! Any thoughts?

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So What Happened?

Another friend suggested that I put him in his stroller, so I tried that today. I had the stroller (which reclines almost flat) up in his bedroom and after lunch took him upstairs, changed him and put him in the stroller. He cried and tried to get out at first but I just kept pushing it back and forth. After a little while he got himself comfortable (straightened out and lay back) and quickly went to sleep. It took about 15 minutes. Yay!
As for the climbing out of the crib scare...he's never shown any inclination to do that before - goes to sleep great in the crib at night, doesn't make a peep all night, and sings and plays happily in the morning until we come to get him. So I put him to bed as usual last night and I don't think I have to worry about him trying that again. We have a thin wall between our bedrooms, too, so I would hear him cry before he tried it.

More Answers

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J.G.

answers from Washington DC on

I haven't read the other responses so if this is a repeat, sorry. If it were me, I'd get creative and find a special chair or pillow that he could nap in in his room. Maybe a bean bag chair or one of those that is kid-sized and opens into a bed (sort of foamy and folds up). Maybe when you're visiting someone else you could put sofa cushions on the floor and make a cool chair-bed.

Let him pick it out and really play up how special it is. Sounds like he likes to get out of the crib anyway so you need something new and exciting for him. Good luck!

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A.M.

answers from Washington DC on

Hi K. - I don't really have a solution, but I know exactly what you're going through. My son only falls asleep for naps in his car sear or in his stroller. I also telecommute, so at nap time, I usually put him in his stroller and do a couple of laps around the block so he falls asleep and then I carry him up to bed. He also is very good at going to sleep at night by himself, but never for naps. Maybe the stroller or carseat would work for you while you're visiting family.

One more thing, my son is 2yrs 8 mos. He did try to climb out of his crib and fell about 4 months ago so we went IKEA and got a small toddler bed with the bars on the side and he loves it. No problem on the transition. Hope this helps.

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V.D.

answers from Washington DC on

We have bean bags (demin from Pottery Barn kids) for our boys (we have 3, ages 2, 3 and 4!!!).

They love to watch a quiet movie (like Max & Ruby or Kipper) and take a snooze.

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S.C.

answers from Norfolk on

Maybe invest in a kids recliner. I think they are around $100. They are supposed to fit kids up to age 5 or six depending on size. It may be uncomfortable for him to lay down right after he eats for a nap. If he doesn't take to immediately in his bedroom maybe start it out where he takes his nap now and slowly move it into his bedroom.

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